Chemical fire-extinguishing apparatus and control device therefor



J. R. HAMILTON.

CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS AND CONTROL DEVICE THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5. 1915.

1,843,364. Patented June 15, 1920.

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TTOR/VE JOHN R. HAMILTON, or YONKERS, NEW YORK, AssIGuoR 'ro sYPrro-cHEMIcAL SPRINKLER ooaroanrron, or ono'ro'u-oN-HUDsoN, NEW YORK, A ooRro- RATION OF NEW YORK.

CHEMICAL FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS AND CONTROL DEVICE THEREFOR.

Application filed. August 5,1915. Serial No. 43,716.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOHN R. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, county of Westchester, State of with non-freezing or other extinguishing, liquid and connected with a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid which may include a chemical mixing tank. The mixing devices cooperating with this tank may comprise a casing having a multiple compartment acid container'provided with passages for the simultaneous supplying and apportioning of the filling charge of acid or other chemical among the difierent compartments. A starting siphon preferably cooperates with the initial acid charges so as to discharge them into the tank by means of the suction impulse caused inthe substantially closed upper part of the'distributing system when discharge occurs from one or more of the distributing devices. The suction connection from the distributing system preferably has its lower end extending into the mixing tank and a siphon actuating pipe or subsidiary suction connection involving a liquid cut-off loop preferably extends upward from the starting siphon and then downward into the suction actuating connection to minimize undesirable passage of acid or other fluid through these connections or pipes. This application comprises subject-matter taken from my pending application, Serial No. 847,370, filed June 26, 19-14. v

The accompanying drawing shows in a somewhat diagrammatic way an illustrative embodiment of thisinvention in sectional elevation.

The distributing system may be of any desired construction and arrangement and may as indicated comprise one or more risers or supply pipes 3 to which may be connected various distributing lines 6 so as to supply the extinguishing liquid to the distributing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented devices, such as the automatic sprinkler" heads arranged at various points around the buildlng to be protected. The distributmg, system may be normally charged with any suitable extinguishing liquid, such, for example, as non-freezing solution 33 which maybe kept under the desired moderate head by means of an actuating tank 32 connected to the upper part of the system. For low temperature work non-freezing solution is desirable and in this case a check valve, such as 4, should be interposed between the dlstributing system and the supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid such as the chemical mixing tank 1, for instance. The supply connection 2 extending down into the tank and preferably provided;

with a strainer 5 may with advantage be formed with a suitable pin-hole aperture or equalizing passage 62 above thelevel of the charge 8 of carbonate or other extinguishin liquid in the tank. b The chemical mixing devices for supplying to the mixing tank suitable pressure producmg chemicals cooperating with the chemical charge in'the tank may, for. in-

stance, comprise a casing 35 secured to the tank in any desired wayand having a suitable cover as bolted or otherwise secured thereto so as to form a tight joint in connection therewith. A'plurality of communrcating acid chambers may be mounted within the casing and may comprise one or more actuating or starting chambers and cooperating devices adapted to discharge chemicalinto the tank through the communicating neck 38 of the casing. If desired these chambers may be in the form of a multiple compartment container formed of lead or other suitableinert material at least on the inner surface where sulfuric acid or the like is used for these chemical charges andthe primary chamber'i5. may contain the 'primaryor starting charge 36 of sulfuric acid andmay. have arranged in connection therewith the starting siphon 23 having its inlet leg or member 24 dipping into this primary chamber. .The discharge leg 21 of the siphon may, if desired, communicate with a secondary chamber or com-' partment 16 preferably containing a charge 17 of acid suficient to primethe end 20 of this discharge leg of thesiphon and preferably having suitable automatic dischargasv j preferably of relatively small effective area mg devices such as the dischargingsiphon comprising the starting or siphon discharge pipe 66 and the siphon bell 18'inclosing the upper end 19 of this pipe within the cham ber.

The starting siphon may be operated in any suitable way from the distributing system, as forinsm nce. by the suction or pressure reduction "impulse caused in the substantially closed upper part of the system when one of thedistributing devices comes into fire emergency operation and this suction impulse may be communicated through a suction actuating connection or pipe 39 having its lower end 40 extended within the casing so that its lower end may be primed with liquid in any desired way as by dipping beneaththe normal level of the liquid 8 in the tank, extending, if desired, for instance, toward the bottom of the tank where it may be provided with a'suitable strainer 9, this arrangement tending to minimize" the unde- V sirable passage of gas or liquid into the upper part of the distributing system under emergency conditions. A siphon actuating pipe or subsidiary suction connection 22 may be connected to the starting-siphon be tween its ends and may communicate with the suction connection in any suitable way, preferably extending upward to form a liquid cut-off loop and then extending down inside the suction actuating connection so that the lower end 30' of this siphon actuating pipe which may in some cases be flared outward as indicated is located at the desired distance above the normal level of the liquid in the suction actuating connection and if desired arranged within an enlargement 29 in the lower end 7 7 of the suction connection. Under emergency conditions the strong initialsuction impulse withdraws the I air from the starting siphon through this siphon actuating pipe 22 at the same time that this suction impulse sucks up the liquid 8 from the tank into the end or" the suction connection; As soon as the air issubstantially withdrawn in this Way from the siphon its siphon action begins in some cases after not more than a few quarts of liquid have been withdrawn from the distributing system and further, suction action by the siphon actuating pipe is undesirable, since it might'tend to draw acid into this pipe. For this reason the suction actuating pipe is formed with the liquid cut-oil loop rc- V ferred to which may extend upward several times as fares the suction head necessary to start the siphon so as to minimizeor effectually prevent any substantial amount of acid being drawn through this pipe into the suction actuating connection 40. This is further minimized by extending the suction actuating pipe down in the suction connection in the path of the column of liquid rising therein from the tank which is sucked uparound the lower end 30 of this siphon actuating pipe so as to rise sufiiciently above this point to exert a considerable static pressure and thus substantially put an end to further suction action through this pipe. .Good results are secured when the height of this lower end of the suction actuating pipe within the actuating connection is several times as great asthe suction head required to-start the siphon so that there is ample opportunity given to certainly start the siphon 28 in action before the liquid incloses the end of the siphon-actuating pipe so as to prevent further starting action there through. I V

When this starting siphon begins to act it quickly discharges the charge of acid 36 from the primary chamber or compartment into the secondary chamber or compartment 16, the passage 25 being ample to allow an equalization therethrough enabling this to take place without interruption even in case tically all of these two starting charges of acid into the tank and create therein the predetermined emergency starting pressure through the resulting chemical action on the charge 8 of carbonate liquid.

This initial emergency pressure in the tank may bemaintained through any desired pressure maintaining devices preferably of a chemical character, such for instance, as the supplemental chemical chamber 12 which may contain a supplemental charge 13 of sulfuric acid or other suitable material and have a siphon discharge device connected with its downwardly draining lower end. The supplemental discharge passage 55 may communicate with the mixing tank and have its upper end 15 surrounded by the siphon bell 14, the lower end 34 of which depends into the depression or drain pocket at the bottom of this compartment. compartment preferably contains a relatively large air space above the acidcharge so that under emergency conditions the relatively high emergency pressure of 50 to 100 pounds or so per square inch, entering through the passage 55, for instance, compresses the air or gas into this chamber so that the pressure therein is substantially the predetermined emergency pressure. When the discharge of extinguishing liquid takes place from the system to such an extent that the pressure in the mixing tank falls a few pounds below this emergency pressure,the pressure within the supplemental chamber 12 forces out a portion of the acid 13 through the siphon discharge passagesothat addie This device or funnel 27 having a restrictedthroat 28 communicates with the primary chamber or compartment 25 and by slowly pouring the acid or chemical into this fun-- nel it fills the chamber below up to the desired height and then when the acid level reaches the top 37 of the filling passage 25 the acid flows down this passage into the secondary chamber 16 so'that the desired charge 17 of acid collects in this chamber. The remainder of the acid enters the supplemental acid chamber 12 by a suitable restricted filling passage as by passing over the ledge or partition 47 which may as indicated be in the form of a pipe or conduit having an upturned receiving end and guiding the acid through the connected restricted filling passage 81 preferably communicating with the supplementalacid chamber through the siphon bell 14: thereof, so that the predetermined charge 13 of acid is supplied to this chamber. The total charge of acid is thus readily divided among the different chambers in the desired proportions, the restricted throat of the filling device being preferably of such size in proportion to the passages, such as 81, so as to prevent the flooding or undesirably rapid filling of the parts. A suitable tank filling device or pipe 10 may be arranged Within the casing so that the sodium carbonate or other chemical solution poured into its upper funnel end may pass into the chemical supply tank 1 and supply or renew the charge 8 of carbonate extinguishing liquid therein. All the filling may be quickly effected in this way and when the cover 46 is again put in place the apparatus is sealed and ready for 7 emergency operation.

It is desirable to have suitable venting or equalizing devices so that preferably the various chambers and part of the apparatus are normally kept at equal and preferably at substantially atmospheric pressures. The pin-hole or'restricted area venting aperture 82 may be provided at the upper end of the distributing system for this purpose and the venting aperture 62 in the upper part of the supply connection 2 may be provided as previously indicated. It is also desirable for this purpose to have suitable equalizing apertures or devices communicatingwith the 7 various chambers within the casing 35,such,

for instance as the reduced or pin-hole aperture 26 and the aperture 81 in the supplemental chemical chamber, keeping its, vari-' ous parts normally at the same pressure as the, pressure within the casing 35, although it is of course understood that these apertures though ample to take care of slow temperature changes are preferably so small as not to materially affect the emergency action of the device. The secondary chamber 16 may be vented by having an open top as indicated, thus giving full communica-' tion with the inside'of the casing 35 although i in any eventthis chamber may be sufficiently Vented through the filling passage 25 and the filling device or funnel passage 28, the

siphon actuating pipe and suction connec-' tion serving of course to normally vent the starting siphon 23.

This invention has been described in connection with a number of illustrative forms,

arrangements, materials, proportions, sizes and parts of the apparatus, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since what is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in th e appended claims. l

I claim 7 1. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributing system having an upper portion substantially closed under emergency conditions, a supplemental supply o-f extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical mixing tank charged with carbonate ex,- tinguishing liquid and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a starting charge ofacid and a starting siphon communicating.

liquid in said tank, a siphon actuating pipev communicating with said starting siphon between its ends and comprising an upwardly extending liquid cut-off loop and having a downwardly extending end within said suction actuating connection at a point several times as far above the normal liquid level in said suction actuating connection as the suction head required to start said starting siphon.

2. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributing system having an upper portion substantially closed under emergency conditions, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical mixing tank charged with carbonate liquid and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a starting charge of acid and a starting siphon communicating there.- with to discharge the same into said tank and having its ends sealed with acid, asuc- 130' comprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a start ng charge and astarting siphon communicating therewith to discharge the same into said tank and having its ends sealed with liquid, a suction actuating connection communicatlng with said d1stributing system and having its lower end sealed with liquid, a siphon actuating pipe communicating with said startlng siphon between lts ends. and comprising an upwardly extending liquid cut-01f loop and having a downwardly extending end communicating with said suction actuating connection at a point several times as far above the normal liquid level in said suction actuating connection as the suction head required to start said starting siphon. v

4. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributing system, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a starting charge and a starting siphon communicating therewith to discharge the same into said tank and having its ends sealed with liquid, a suction actuating connection: communicating with said distributing system and having its lower end sealed with liquid, a siphon actuating pipe communicating with said starting siphon between its ends and having an end communicating with said suction actuating connection at apoint several times as far above the normal liquid level in said suction actuating connection as the suction head r'equiredto start said starting siphon. I I

5. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributing system, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system andcomprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a starting charge'and a starting siphon communicating therewith to discharge the same into said tank and having its ends sealed with liquid, a suction actuating connection communicating with said distributsupply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperatlng chemical mixing devices comprising a charge of pressure producing chemical and a starting siphon communicating therewith to discharge the same into said tank and having its ends sealed. with liquid, an actuating .connection communicating with the upper part of said distributing systemand having its lower end sealed with the liquidinsaid tank, a siphon actuating pipecommunicating with said starting siphon between its ends and comprising an upwardly extending liquid cut-off loop extending upward farther than the head required to start said siphon and having a downwardly extending end communicating with said suction actuating connection at a point farther above the normal liquid level in said suction actuating connection than the suction head required to start said starting siphon.

7. In chemical fireextinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a charge of pressure producing chemical and a starting siphon communicatingtherewith to discharge the same into said tankand having its ends sealed with liquid, an actuating connection communicating with said distributing system and having its lower end sealed with the liquid in said tank, a siphon actuating pipe communicating with said starting siphon between-its ends and communicating with said suction actuating connection at a point farther above the nor-- mal liquid level in said suction actuating connection than the suction head required to start said starting siphon.

8. In chemical fire extinguishing appara tus, a distributing system, 'a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperating distributing system and having its lower end sealed with the liquid in said tank, a siphon actuating pipe communicating with said starting siphon between its ends and comprising an upwardly extending liquid cut-ofi loop extending upward 'farther than the head required to start said siphon.

9. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributing system having an upper portion substantially closed under emergency conditions, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a starting charge of pressure producing chemical and a starting siphon communicating therewith to discharge the same into said tank and having its ends sealed with liquid, a suction connection communicating with theupper part of said distributing system and having its lower end sealed with liquid under such pressure as substantially corresponds to the varying pressure in the gas space of said tank, a siphon actuating pipe communicating with said starting siphon between its ends and comprising an upwardly extending liquid cut-off loop and having a downwardly extending end communicating with said suction actuating connection at a point below the liquid level therein under starting conditions and a supplemental supply of pressure producing chemical and means to supply the same into said tank;

10. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributing system having an upper portion substantially closedunder emergency conditions, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a starting charge of pressure producing chemical and a starting siphon communicating therewith: to discharge the same into said tank and having its ends sealed with liquid, a suction connection communicating with the upper part of said distributing system and having its lower end sealed with liquid under such pressure as substantially corresponds to the varying'pressure in the gas spaceof said tank, a siphon actuating pipe communicating with said starting siphon and comprising an upwardly extending liquid cut-off portion and having a downwardly extending end communicating with said suction actuating connection at a point below the liquid level therein under emergency conditions. 11. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a supply of extinguishing liquid, cooperating chemical pressure generating means comprising a supply of carbonate extinguishing "liquid, a multiple acid chemi-- cal container comprising primary and sec:

municating with one of said chambers and i a restricted filling passageextending between the other chambers to automatically apportion a charge of acid pressure-producing chemical.

12. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a supply of extinguishing liquid, cooperating chemical pressure generating means comprising a multiple chemical container comprising primary and secondary chain-- bers, -.an interposed starting siphonhaving its ends normally primed-by the liquid in said chambers and a third chamber, a filling device having a restricted opening communicating with one of said chambers. and. a restricted filling passage extending between the other chambers to automatically apportion a charge of pressure producing chemical between said chambers.

erating chemical pressure. generating means comprising a multiple chemical contalner comprising primary and secondary. chambers and a third chamber, a filling device having a restricted opening communicating with one of said chambers anda restricted filling passage extending between the other chambers to automatically apportion a charge of pressure producing chemical: be tWeen said chambers. V

l4. In'chemical fire extinguishing appa ratus, a supply of extinguishing liquid, cooperating chemical pressure generating means comprising a supply of carbonate extinguishing liquid, a multiple acid container comprising a primary chamber, a connectedsecondary starting chamber and a' third chamber having a siphon discharge pipe communicating therewith, a filling device having a restricted opening communicating with said primary chamber,.a filling 9'0 13. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a supply of extinguishing liquid, cooppassage extendingtherefrom into said seccommunicating therewith, a fillingdevice having a restricted opening communicating with said primary chamber, a filling pas sage extending therefrom into said second ary chamber and a restricted filling passage extending. from said secondary chamber into the receiving portion of thesiphon d1s-' charge pipe of said third chamber to automatically apportion a charge between said chambers. I

' 16. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributing system having -an upper portion substantially closed under emergency conditions, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to pipe communicating with said starting siphon between its ends and comprising an upwardly extending liquid cut-ofii' portion and having a downwardly extending end communicating with said suction actuating connection at a point below the liquid level therein under 7 emergency conditions.

17. In chemical-fire extinguishing appa- I ratus, a wet pipe' distributing system having an upper portion substantially closed under emergency conditions, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a starting charge of pressure producing chemical and a starting siphon communicating therewith to discharge'the same into said tank, a suction actuatingconnection communicating with the upper part of said distributing system and having its lower end sealed with liquid under such pressure as substantially corresponds to the varying pressure in the gas space of said tank, a siphon actuating pipe communicating with said starting siphon and comprising a downwardly extending end communicating with said suction actuating connection at a point below the liquid level therein under emergency conditions. r

18. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprisinga starting charge of pressure produc ng chemical and a suction controlled starting device I commun cating therewith to discharge the same into said tank, a, suction actuating connection communicating with said dis tributing system and havingits lower end sealed with liquid, a suction actuating pipe communicating with said starting device and comprising an upwardly extending liquid'cut-ofi' portion and having a. down.- wardly extending end communicating with said suction actuating connection at a point below' the liquid level thereinunder emer gency conditions. s

vl9. In chemical fire extinguishing appa ratus, a distributing system, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising'a chemical pressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a starting charge of pressure producing chemical and a suction controlled starting device communicating therewith to dis charge the same into saidtank, asuction actuating connection communicating with said distributing system and having its lower end sealed with liquid, a suction actuating pipe communicating with said starting device and comprising a downwardly extending end communicating with said suction actuating connection.

20. In chemical fire-extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure tank and coiiperating chemical mixing devices comprising a starting charge of pressure producing-chemical and a starting siphon communicating therewith to discharge'the same into said tank and having its ends sealed,a suction actu-. ating connection communicating with said distributing system andhaving its lower end sealed with liquid under such pressure as substantially corresponds to the varying pressure in the gas space of said tank, a siphon actuating pipe communicating with said starting siphon between its ends and comprising a downwardly extending end communicating with said suction actuating connection at a point below the liquid level therein under emergency conditions.

4 21. In chemical 'fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, a supplemental supply of extinguishing liquid connected to said distributing system and comprising a chemical pressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a start- "ing charge of pressure producing chemical with to vdischarge'the same into said tank, a

suction actuating connection communicating with said distributing system and having its lower 'end sealed with liquid under and a starting siphon communicating there- V prising a. downwardly extending end"comdischarge acid from said container into said supply of carbonate liquid under emergency conditions, means to pour acid into the primary compartment of said acid container and a' passage between said primary com-' partment and the secondary compartment of said acid container for the fiow of acid to automatically apportion a charge of acid between the two compartments.

23. In fire extinguishing apparatus, chemical pressure producing means comprising a supply of carbonate extinguishing liquid, a multiple acid container and chemical mixing means to discharge acid from said container into said supply of carbonate liquid under emergency conditions, means to pour acid into the primary compartment of said acid container and apassage between said primary compartment and the secondary compartment of said acid container for the flow of acid to automatically apportion a charge of acid between the two compartments.

24. In fire extinguishing apparatus, chemical pressure producing means comprising a supply of extinguishing liquid, a

multiple chemical container and chemical mixing means to discharge material from said container under emergency conditions, means to pour chemical into the primary compartment of said container and a passage between said primary compartment and the secondary compartment of said container to automatically apportion a charge between the two compartments.

25. In chemicalfire'extinguishing apparatus, a supply of extinguishing liquid, 00- operating chemical pressure generating means comprising a multiple chemical container comprising primary and secondary 7 chambers and a third chamber, a filling device having a restricted opening communieating with one of said chambers and a fillng passage extending between theother chambers to automatically apportion charge of pressure producing chemical be-' tween said chambers.

26. In chemicalfire,extinguishing apparatus, a supply of extinguishing liquid, cooperating chemical pressure generating means comprising a multiple chemical container comprising primary and secondary chambers and a third chamber, filling pas V sages extending between the chambers to automatically apportion a charge of pres- ?)ure producing chemical between saidchamers.

27. A fire extinguishing apparatus having a solution of fire extinguishing element, acid for reacting with said fire extinguishing element to form gas to expel said fire extinguishing element, said acid being maintained separate from said fire extinguishing element, a siphon tubefor conveying said acid tosaid fire extinguishing element, a secondary supply system including a supply of extinguishing liquid and a connected sprinkler head sensitive to heat, a pipe connection connecting said siphon tube with said secondary supply system whereby upon the opening of said-sprinkler head and the passage therethroughof extinguishing liquid under the impulse of said second supply of extinguishing liquid a suction will lee-created to initiate the siphon Jnssru B. KAY. 

